In the ongoing battle against scams and cyber threats affecting millions annually, a recent cybersecurity study has highlighted a concerning trend: ‘1234’ remains a popular security PIN across various platforms, including Chip and PIN cards and phone passcodes.
A report by Information is Beautiful analysed leaked databases and found that many individuals continue to use easily guessable PIN numbers to secure their sensitive information.
The study revealed that ‘1234’ is still the most common PIN, representing nearly 11 percent of the examined entries.
Other commonly used PINs include ‘1111’, ‘0000’, ‘1212’, and ‘7777’. This analysis, based on data from “Data Genetics,” provides insight into both the most and least frequently used four-digit PINs exposed in data breaches.
The study also discovered that out of the 3.4 million PINs reviewed, many users relied on simple patterns for their security codes, underscoring the need for better PIN selection practices to enhance cybersecurity.
Most common 4-digit PINS
- 1234
- 1111
- 0000
- 1212
- 7777
- 1004
- 2000
- 4444
- 2222
- 6969
Least common 4-digit PINs
- 8557
- 8438
- 9539
- 7063
- 6827
- 0859
- 6793
- 0738
- 6835
- 8093
Jake Moore, a global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, emphasised the dangers associated with using simple or easily guessable passwords. He noted that such weak security measures "allow attackers to more easily target individuals."
In an interview with the UK tabloid MailOnline, Moore pointed out that many people don't realise the severity of the threat posed by weak passwords and PINs until they become victims of cyber attacks.
Moore also stressed that poor cybersecurity habits make it much easier for hackers to breach systems. He mentioned that people often choose PIN codes that are either very common or personally significant and easily obtainable, such as birth dates.
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